Final 2026 election results: ANC 30.8%, DA 24.6%, 127 hung councils

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) declared the 2026 local government elections free and fair on Sunday evening, 8 November 2026, and released the final results at its results centre in Midrand. The ANC remains the largest party nationally with 30.76% of the vote, ahead of the DA on 24.64%, as announced on the night and reported by SAnews and News24.

Turnout was 52%, with about 14.9 million of 29.2 million registered voters casting ballots, up from 45.9% in 2021, IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said (SAnews).

What are the final national results?

Source: IEC declaration as reported by SAnews, News24 and EWN's live reporting, 8 November 2026.

The written copy of Moepya's speech published on gov.za lists slightly different numbers (ANC 30.89% and 3,164 seats, DA 24.60% and 1,527 seats, MK 9.61% and 701, EFF 6.25% and 505, ActionSA 5.68% and 219). The figures above are the ones reported from the announcement itself. For the definitive council-by-council numbers, use the IEC results site, which has the dashboard and downloadable reports.

How many councils are hung?

The IEC said 72 councils have a party with an outright majority of seats and 127 are hung, meaning no party won more than half the seats (SAnews). Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni are among them (EWN).

Source: SAnews, 8 November 2026. Spoilt votes were 1.84% nationally.

Is anything still outstanding?

Yes, two things:

1. A revote in Douglas, Northern Cape. Ballot papers at the Jabulani Community Hall voting district in ward 3 of Siyancuma Municipality were destroyed before counting, so the IEC has ordered a revote there on a date it will set. It has also gone to the Electoral Court and opened a criminal case (gov.za, News24).
2. Objections. EWN reported that 192 objections had been lodged by Saturday afternoon and that some parties may go to court (EWN). The IEC said it will still decide objections lodged after the declaration, as section 65(7) of the Municipal Electoral Act allows (gov.za).

When will mayors be elected?

Each new council must hold its first meeting within 14 days of the results being declared, where councillors elect a speaker and then a mayor, under section 29 of the Municipal Structures Act. With the declaration on 8 November, that points to first sittings by about 22 November 2026. EWN also reported that councils will need to elect mayors and speakers over the next two weeks.

In hung councils, parties first have to agree on coalitions or other deals. Reported's hung-council explainer covers how that works.

Will my water, power and refuse services stop in the meantime?

No. Municipal staff keep running water, electricity, refuse collection and billing while councils are formed. Keep paying your account and reporting faults through your municipality's usual channels.

Where can I check my own ward and council?

The IEC's results site has the official dashboard (search by municipality or ward) and downloadable PDF, Excel and CSV reports, including seat calculations for every council.